Ylva’s properties will be carbon neutral by 2025 — Ylva joins the Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment
4.12.2019
Ylva has signed the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment. The commitment aims to decarbonise the operation of buildings on an ambitious schedule. CEO Antti Kerppola presented Ylva’s work to other real estate pioneers who pledged commitment to keep climate change in check in Brussels on the 3rd of December.
Carbon dioxide emissions of the real estate and construction industry create almost 40 % of all emissions globally. At the same time there are no signs of construction slowing down any time soon; in fact, the opposite is true. Most of the current building base will be used in the following decades as well. To reach Finland’s, or even the European Union’s, objectives of a carbon-neutral society, the solutions that slow down climate change must be implemented as soon as possible. Emission reductions must be found in both construction and building operations.
“Ylva is fully committed to implementing the Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment. There is a pressing need to make buildings more energy efficient and to find new kinds of solutions to obtain cleaner energy. Properties must always be examined comprehensively, so we consider the carbon emissions of our construction projects and forms of green financing as part of the whole as well. We want to do our part to accelerate the change. That is why Ylva has set the goal of reaching carbon neutrality in its own properties by 2025,” Ylva’s CEO Antti Kerppola explains.
Ylva is the first Finnish property developer to sign the commitment. The commitment is also signed by the City of Helsinki and property manager Newsec.
Companies, cities and areas that have signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment aim for carbon neutrality in all of their properties by 2030. Parties who have signed the commitment spur the entire industry and support the goal of all buildings operating in a carbon-neutral way by 2050.
Further information:
Antti Ruuska, Chief Sustainability Officer, +358 (0)40 176 3142
Jannica Aalto, Marketing and Communications Director, +358 (0)45 134 7636 (media enquiries)
Ylva’s objective is to build an international and sustainable city of science and economy. Our business operations are focused on real estate and financial investments, along with the accommodation and restaurant business. We are owned by the students of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. Ylva’s turnover in 2018 was €33.5 million and operating result €5.5 million. Until 20 March 2019, Ylva was known as HYY Group.
